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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 596
 
| Have a new gelding that has under run heels. The previous owner said they ran him barefoot for years, when they sold him new owners put 3drgree wedges on him. Was wondering about going to natural trim. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
 
Location: North Dakota | As long as he doesn't have any underlying issues, I don't see why CORRECT barefoot trimming wouldn't be able to fix the under run heels.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 596
| Do they get traction or slip a lot ? |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1066
| strawfly special - 2014-02-27 1:27 PM Do they get traction or slip a lot ?
My gelding has excellent hard, black feet, and he has no issues with traction what-so-ever when running barefoot. Honestly, if its been raining at all I feel he is more sure footed barefoot than he is with shoes. The only time I am concerned is when the run in to a rodeo arena, or warm up area is quite rocky... he has great feet, but I dont want to push my luck and have him abscess or something.
I should add- I dont use a "barefoot trimmer". We are really good friends with one of the best farriers around (corrective shoeing etc) and he just does what he thinks needs to be done and I trust him 110%. He prefers to put shoes on most horses, but he agrees that my horse is just fine without. |
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 I"m Jealous!
Posts: 1737
Location: Benton City, WA | strawfly special - 2014-02-27 11:42 AM Have a new gelding that has under run heels. The previous owner said they ran him barefoot for years, when they sold him new owners put 3drgree wedges on him. Was wondering about going to natural trim.
So which way did he perform better? Barefoot or with wedges?
Not every horse with underrun heels can be corrected with trimming. The risk you are taking on is, if the horse is severely underrun, when you take the wedges off, you are effectively dropping those heels back down and putting a lot of pressure back on all the structures on the back of the leg: suspensory ligament, tendons, etc. He may strain something, or just not perform as well because he's protecting himself.
Bottom line is, we really can't say what is best for the horse with out seeing his feet...Have you had a vet give you their opinion on him?
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 596
| We just got him last week. He is sound now but some previous owners said he was really good barefoot |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1096
| All my horses are barefoot. Over the last year we have trimmed so they have what they call the "Mustang Roll". Absolutely love it! Their is a bit of time involved but it is well worth it. Sound, no chipping, feel the ground excellent! That being said their are always exceptions to the rule so I would check out to see what is the best option for you and your horse. |
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Veteran
Posts: 159
Location: Central TX | These are my personal feelings on barefoot... maybe not everyone agrees but I've been pro rodeoing for about 13 years now and i've made multiple wpra circuit finals on a few different horses. I bought a pro rodeo horse probably 9 years ago that had ran barefoot almost all of her life, I became really into the whole "barefoot" idea because the mare's feet looked awesome and she ran great. And then something happened....still no idea what, but suddenly she went from perfectly sound to perfectly UNSOUND...all because of her feet. She got sore from running on different rodeo grounds and guess what? I had to retire a 100,000 dollar horse 2 years into ownership. I've had a lot of different horses that i thought would be great barefoot, and they ended up very sore eventually. Its also more maintenance...have to keep softrides on em at all times pretty much, have to be more careful about where you warm up, where you run...doesn't work for me. I know it works for a few girls but I've gone from thinking it was an awesome idea to very quickly thinking otherwise. Nobody wants to have to throw away 100k in cash because their horse became to hoof sore to work anymore. I assumed everything was fine but it wasnt and it made its self evident that it wasnt eventually. I won't keep anything i run barefoot now...just not a chance i'm willing to take. Better for the horses to have support. my two cents. |
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Expert
Posts: 1432
| brrlrcrtx44 - 2014-02-27 4:40 PM
These are my personal feelings on barefoot... maybe not everyone agrees but I've been pro rodeoing for about 13 years now and i've made multiple wpra circuit finals on a few different horses. I bought a pro rodeo horse probably 9 years ago that had ran barefoot almost all of her life, I became really into the whole "barefoot" idea because the mare's feet looked awesome and she ran great. And then something happened....still no idea what, but suddenly she went from perfectly sound to perfectly UNSOUND...all because of her feet. She got sore from running on different rodeo grounds and guess what? I had to retire a 100,000 dollar horse 2 years into ownership. I've had a lot of different horses that i thought would be great barefoot, and they ended up very sore eventually. Its also more maintenance...have to keep softrides on em at all times pretty much, have to be more careful about where you warm up, where you run...doesn't work for me. I know it works for a few girls but I've gone from thinking it was an awesome idea to very quickly thinking otherwise. Nobody wants to have to throw away 100k in cash because their horse became to hoof sore to work anymore. I assumed everything was fine but it wasnt and it made its self evident that it wasnt eventually. I won't keep anything i run barefoot now...just not a chance i'm willing to take. Better for the horses to have support. my two cents.
I totally agree...All my rodeo horses are shod. |
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Expert
Posts: 3147
| I've run barefoot for three years now. I don't rodeo, don't run over twice in one weekend and might average two weekends a month for a twelve month period. My mare has great feet, don't need ez ride boots for her nor does she have under slung heels. If I rodeoed or hauled more than I do I would probably put shoes on as rodeo ground can be nasty. Also, I think some horses just don't have the feet to go barefoot. |
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Expert
Posts: 2122
Location: The Great Northwest | brrlrcrtx44 - 2014-02-28 2:40 PM These are my personal feelings on barefoot... maybe not everyone agrees but I've been pro rodeoing for about 13 years now and i've made multiple wpra circuit finals on a few different horses. I bought a pro rodeo horse probably 9 years ago that had ran barefoot almost all of her life, I became really into the whole "barefoot" idea because the mare's feet looked awesome and she ran great. And then something happened....still no idea what, but suddenly she went from perfectly sound to perfectly UNSOUND...all because of her feet. She got sore from running on different rodeo grounds and guess what? I had to retire a 100,000 dollar horse 2 years into ownership. I've had a lot of different horses that i thought would be great barefoot, and they ended up very sore eventually. Its also more maintenance...have to keep softrides on em at all times pretty much, have to be more careful about where you warm up, where you run...doesn't work for me. I know it works for a few girls but I've gone from thinking it was an awesome idea to very quickly thinking otherwise. Nobody wants to have to throw away 100k in cash because their horse became to hoof sore to work anymore. I assumed everything was fine but it wasnt and it made its self evident that it wasnt eventually. I won't keep anything i run barefoot now...just not a chance i'm willing to take. Better for the horses to have support. my two cents.
I totally agree! Your horse can get accustomed to the ground he lives on but take the horse out of those conditions you may come up with a sore horse. The trim is so important too, but it is almost impossible to have them sound on all types of ground. |
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 Regular
Posts: 60
Location: Oklahoma | I just think it depends on the horse. My mare actually runs barefoot better and she always hated getting shoes put on. I will mostly shoe a horse if they are slipping a lot, or if I were to mostly run in bad ground. I havent had a horse yet that really NEEDED shoes, but Im sure I will one day. All horses are different. I also dont pro rodeo (hopefully someday) but Im sure that level of competing makes a difference |
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Veteran
Posts: 159
Location: Central TX | You guys also have to consider the types of "ground", (if you could even call it that) that ive warmed up on at pro rodeos...13 years and I've warmed up on everything from dirt packed as hard as street pavement, to uneven clay with rocks all in it, gravel, a sidewalk with a patch of grass on it...absolutely disastrous warm up areas. And thats what ALOT of pro rodeos and rodeos in general have... theres usually not a nice place to warm up unless they have a back field of grass. There has been times where i havent even been able to warm up my horse AT ALL before a run because theres nothing there but a paved parking lot. That is the reality at a large number rodeo grounds. Most big 4D barrel races ive been to always have a GREAT place to warm up and great accommodations for the horses...Rodeos- NOT THE CASE!! theres a HUGE difference between what a horse has to withstand at a rodeo vs a barrel race (for example BBR finals, D&D barrel classic, buckeye..etc) and whats the first thing all of that rough ground is going to affect? bingo...hooves! i feel like rodeo is so hard on a horse as it is that the least we could do is take a huge load off of them by putting shoes on. Also saves me tons of time, stress, and VET BILLS!! I've had horses that i thought ran better barefoot too (usually handle crappy ground better) but in the end, they need to be able to handle it with shoes on too because i'm not going to leave one barefoot for long. |
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  Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576
Location: ND | I'm a HUGE fan of natural hoof care, the results I've gotton on my horses using this trim method are nothing but wonderful. When it comes to getting a foot healthy I don't think there is a better option. That said, the horse I haul for mounted shooting wears shoes during the competition season. Warm up area's SUCK at a lot of the shoots as does the arena conditions at some. I'm not willing to take a chance with hauling him barefoot knowing the conditions we see. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 349
| Up until recently I was all barefoot all the way. My mare is barefoot and always will be, but my gelding goes alright barefoot but probably going to put shoes back on. Currently working on his heels spreading back out and in that essence it has helped wonders. But I will probably put him back in shoes soon |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| Depends on the horse and how much you run. I do run with front shoes and and if i am not running too much like big 4-d nbha world and some places with rocky ground.
My 1-d mare would turn so hard would move here shoes and i would frony shoe her until may when the ground was soft and then i would shoe al the way. Then in dec imwould take shoes off put them on 1st of march. I would not want to,take the chance of brusing the sole of the foot, or any of those little bones tendons if they step on something going 90 in the ring cause you cant pick up every sharp rock kn your arena.
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | I run barefoot, always have. I use a corrective barefoot trimmer and boy has she really done a good job on all of my horses hooves.
My mare has tough hard black hooves, she doesn't slip |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | strawfly special - 2014-02-27 2:27 PM
Do they get traction or slip a lot ?
never had mine slip or have trouble with any ground. I love having mine barefoot and I love never having to worry about a pulled shoe, or any of that! |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I don't rodeo, and I can see how a horse running at 3-4 rodeos a weekend can have problems barefoot, but it is still doable.
Marlene McRae told me that she tried running barefoot, had X-rays at the beginning of the season then a few months later re xrayed the results were the soles became very thin.
If I was going to rodeo hard and wanted to go barefoot, I would be using boots my preference is old macs to warm up, I would remove them right before my run and put them back on. I have done this at jackpots that had horrible warm up. This would reduce the wearing of the soles. |
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Itchy Boobs
Posts: 360
| I have a 7yo mare who has some tough feet , i had her shoed a few times but she does just as well barefoot so i just keep her trimmed. |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
| I can see keeping in shoes if you never knew what you were facing as far as ground conditions (warm up or competition). You take that factor out of the equation, which is the smart move.
If you know all the ground conditions you will face in a given year and all are ok to ride on without shoes, then barefoot is a great option, as long as the trimmer knows what they are doing.
A bad farrier is a bad farrier with or without shoes involved. A horse can be lamed by a bad trim as easy as a hot nail. Bad trimming is what makes a farrier bad -- only a balanced foot works right, whether a shoe is attached or not.
I am currently shoe free. Zan, who has a very slight clubbed front, has never had better feet. Even my vet (who was my farrier previous to my new trimmer/farrier) says his foot looks fantastic. Xena is going to paddle no matter what, but the motion is less exaggerated without the shoe and she won't hurt herself nearly as bad without steel on leg contact if she does swing that front excessively. Boy is only being used to play with some cows here and there right now and I'll have to x-ray his rears again if I get really serious about team penning with him to see how his angles look and maybe put him in shoes with wedges to correct a negative palmar again.
I know the ground conditions I will face here in VA. I lead across gravel at Herndon and the Horse Center, and since both competition horses are well over a year into barefoot-ness they don't hardly notice A21 gravel anymore. I have acceptable footing with little to no rocks or stones. I am very happy to have found a farrier who will keep my guys well balanced and happy, foot wise. And it sure is easier on the $$'s. Unless I have to for therapeudic reasons, shoes will be obsolete for me and my crew. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 333
| How is a natural trim different from a regular trim? |
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| lonely va barrelxr - 2014-02-28 10:21 AM I can see keeping in shoes if you never knew what you were facing as far as ground conditions (warm up or competition). You take that factor out of the equation, which is the smart move.
If you know all the ground conditions you will face in a given year and all are ok to ride on without shoes, then barefoot is a great option, as long as the trimmer knows what they are doing.
A bad farrier is a bad farrier with or without shoes involved. A horse can be lamed by a bad trim as easy as a hot nail. Bad trimming is what makes a farrier bad -- only a balanced foot works right, whether a shoe is attached or not.
I am currently shoe free. Zan, who has a very slight clubbed front, has never had better feet. Even my vet (who was my farrier previous to my new trimmer/farrier) says his foot looks fantastic. Xena is going to paddle no matter what, but the motion is less exaggerated without the shoe and she won't hurt herself nearly as bad without steel on leg contact if she does swing that front excessively. Boy is only being used to play with some cows here and there right now and I'll have to x-ray his rears again if I get really serious about team penning with him to see how his angles look and maybe put him in shoes with wedges to correct a negative palmar again.
I know the ground conditions I will face here in VA. I lead across gravel at Herndon and the Horse Center, and since both competition horses are well over a year into barefoot-ness they don't hardly notice A21 gravel anymore. I have acceptable footing with little to no rocks or stones. I am very happy to have found a farrier who will keep my guys well balanced and happy, foot wise. And it sure is easier on the $$'s. Unless I have to for therapeudic reasons, shoes will be obsolete for me and my crew.
^^^^^This is my main reason for going barefoot! Good farriers are hard to come by in my area, but I have a pretty reliable barefoot trimmer that is doing an excellent job transitioning my 6 year old mare after several popular farriers in my area just couldn't be consistent in their shoeing.
If I had an awesome, reliable farrier at my disposal then I would most likely keep shoes on my performance horses. However, since that is not the case then I choose barefoot. My horse likes it and so do I.  |
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 Did I miss the party?
Posts: 3864
| If I had to choose between a bad farrier or barefoot, I'd definitely be barefoot. But, for rodeo'ing hard.... prefer shoes. Or they'd be in hoofboots the entire time minus my actual run. Including warming up. |
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Member
Posts: 29
| If he has under run heels, then he more than likely has thinner soles. Where I live, it doesn't get dry enough for their hooves to harden completely. So, my experience has been that no matter how much time they have to toughen up, those types need shoes at least in front and are usually ok behind. Otherwise they get front endy feeling even if they are sound. If you live in a dry environment, it may be ok.
Edited by twinkles 2014-03-01 10:19 PM
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Member
Posts: 29
| and to answer your question, I have a horse who after 11 years, I've finally given up on trying to run him with shoes of any kind. He slips and gets sore with shoes. He stays confident being barefoot, and sound. I run on all types of ground. Including rodeos. I use boots to walk across the rocks. He doesn't have trouble running on any ground being barefoot, but he sure did with shoes. He is the exception for me. Most have done better with shoes. Just the way he uses himself I suppose. They are all so different. |
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 Certified Snake Wrangler
Posts: 1672
Location: North MS | I have 4 that are barefoot. No rodeos, only NBHA, a Friday Night series and maybe add in a club show once a month. The occasional 4H fundraiser and 3 day show series. Everybody is barefoot- even the appendix who stresses and teaches me soooo much about trimming. He makes everyone else look easy. One mare has perfect feet. The two young ones can be a bit of a challenge, but nothing bad. Everybody seems to handle ground well. I've never ridden one any other way so I truly wouldn't know. The appendix has tripped once at an event. Went to a knee. Recovered and on we went. This is in 4 years of being barefoot. Oddly enough my 21 year old TB Silent Darkness has the best feet EVER! She must have some awesome genetics in that department as well. Of course I make a conscious decision not to run my horse on gravel, only walk across no matter how antsy they get. I try to find a spot of grass, sand, or dirt to warm up in. It also doesn't make sense for me to spend $65 every 6 weeks on shoes. Roughly $20/run each month on shoes. When I can be barefoot, mindful of conditions, and be worry free about them loosing a shoe. |
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Who runs barefoot ?